This year’s Awesome 3000 T-shirts will feature original artwork drawn by Sprague High School sophomore Kate Swenson.
Kate’s artwork features SKEF mascot, Geo crossing the start line to begin the race leaving the text “Awesome 3000” in his dust. Representatives of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation recognized her at an all-school assembly on Friday, January 31, 2020.
Each year the Foundation invites young artists in the Salem-Keizer Public Schools to come up with a design for the Awesome 3000 fun run held the first Saturday in May.
Kate has been interested in art since she was a small child and really enjoys creating with colored pencils. While she has never run in the Awesome 3000, Kate is no stranger to the Awesome Art Contest having placed second in last year’s competition. She looks forward to studying art after high school and seeing whether it leads her to a career, or if she keeps it as a hobby.
In addition to seeing her artwork on 5,000 t-shirts and thousands of registration forms, posters and more, Kate received a check for $100. She also earned a $250 contribution to the Sprague High School art department.
The second-place design came from an eighth-grader at Claggett Creek Middle School and the third-place design came from Sprague High School senior Patricia Ewing.
Kelly Carlisle, the executive director at SKEF says, “All the entries captured the energy and spirit of the event and kudos to all of the students who shared their artwork with us.”
Kate Swenson will be onsite at the Awesome 3000 to sign T-shirts, posters and programs featuring her artwork.
This year’s Awesome 3000 is May 2. Registration will open online on SKEF’s website on March 15. Paper forms will be available at SKEF, 223 Commercial St NE, or in school offices beginning Monday, March 30. Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities also can be found on the foundation’s website